About
The character 的 is structurally composed of 白, denoting whiteness, and 勺, representing a spoon, with its formation as a pictophonetic character where 白 originally conveyed brightness and 勺 served as a phonetic element. Etymologically, it first carried meanings related to brightness and clarity in early Chinese texts. Its semantic scope shifted over time, and it evolved into a grammatical particle indicating possession or modification, which is its primary function in contemporary usage, while its original sense of brightness is largely obsolete.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是我的书。
蓝色的天空很美。
我最喜欢的人是妈妈。
这是昨天买的新的自行车。
他说的故事是很有意思的。
桌子上放的是我朋友的红色杯子。
那个穿着白色衬衫的先生是我昨天遇到的人。
在图书馆认真看书的学生们是这座学校最好的风景。